First telcos commit to Windows 7 netbooks

Six US and European telcos have become the first carriers to announce they're selling netbooks running Microsoft's Windows 7, launched today.

On Thursday, the number one and two mobile companies in the US as well as T-Mobile, O2, Vodafone and Telia Sonera in Europe committed to offering netbooks with Windows 7 this month and next.

The news comes on the day Microsoft officially released Windows 7 in New York, and it fills out details on what Don Peterson, Microsoft's director of netbook PCs in its Windows client group, told The Reg just ahead of launch.

Microsoft has promised Windows 7 netbooks from the big four US carriers, plus regional telcos. Also, Microsoft's said to expect deals with European companies.

As Microsoft launched Windows 7, Verizon said it will be offering an HP Mini 311-1037NR for $249.99 on a two-year contract and an HP Mini 110-1046NR in mid-November for $199.99, also with a two-year plan. Verizon will charge either $39.99 or $59.99 a month.

Number-two US cellphone provider AT&T has started taking orders for the Nokia Booklet 3G running Windows 7 and that will arrive next month. Machines will be sold through Best Buy.

Nokia's device will be offered on AT&T's data connect plan, priced $299.99 for two years.

Ahead of that the Windows-7-powered Nokia Booklet 3G is being offered by O2 in Germany, priced 249 euros ($522) with a monthly rate of 20 euros ($30) for two years.

In the UK, T-Mobile will sell a Dell Mini 10v and Verizon a Samsung N140 and Toshiba NB 200 running Windows 7 through mobile retailer Carphone Warehouse. For its part, T-Mobile said it's committed to pre-installing Windows 7 on all new netbooks and notebooks from November onwards and phasing out Windows XP from machines.

Swedish carrier Telia Sonera, meanwhile, has committed to shipping Windows 7 on netbooks from all major OEMS starting in its home market and then "multiple" markets. ®